Apparatus for manufacturing thread or the like



L. J. JORDAN Dec. 1, 1942.

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING THREAD OR THE LIKE Filed Dec. 18, 1939 '7Sheets-Sheet l 3nvcnfor LAVERN JJQRDAN Dec. 1, 1942. L. J. JORDAN2,303,696

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING THREAD OR THE LIKE Envontor LAVERN JJQRDANattorney 7 Shee cs Sheet 4 L. J. JORDAN Filed Dec 18., 193E] Dec. 1,1942.

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING THREAD OR THE LIKE inventor LAVERN JJOR DAN(Ittotneg FIRE L. J. JORDAN Dec. 1, 1942.

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING THREAD OR THE LIKE JIIDQII LAVERN JJQRDAN 7Sheets-Sheet 5 tot \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\- VV'IIIIIIIIIIIII.

III-=5 Cltouug L. J. JORDAN 2,303,696

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING THREAD OR THE LIKE Filed Dec. 18, 1939 7Sheets-Sheet 6 Envcntor LAVERN J.J o RDAN attorney 42. L. J. JORDAN2,303,696

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING THREAD OR THE LIKE Filed Dec. 18, 1939 '7Sheets-Sheet 7 ZSnnentor v LAVERN JJORDAN (Ittorneg Patente d Dec. 1,1942 APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING THREAD on THE LIKE w Lavern J. Jordan,Fairview Village, Ohio, assignor to Industrial Rayon Corporation,Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application December 18,1939, Serial No. 309,733v

12 Claims. (cl.- l8-'-8) This invention relates to apparatus for thecontinuous processing of strip material such as thread or the like,hereinafter referred to as thread." More particularly, it relates tomeans for ventilating such apparatus. For convenience, but in no senseof limitation, the invention will be described in connection withapparatus for the manufacture of viscose artificial silk thread by acontinuous process generally similar to that shown, described andclaimed in Knebusch et a1. Patent 2,225,642.

In such a machine, a plurality of threads are formed by extrusion ofviscose into a coagulating bath. Each thread is withdrawn from the bathand passed in sequence to a downwardly extending series ofthread-advancing reels on each of which a long length of thread iscontinuously but temporarily stored in a plurality of generally helicalturns. The thread is subjected to a processing liquid on each of aplurality of reels in said series, dried on another reel, and finallycollected, as by a cap twister. The reels are arranged in banks one ofwhich is disposed on each side of the machine.

As will appear, it is important to provide ade quate ventilation of suchapparatus.

Each machine may embody several hundred reels in a relatively smallspace; in a single room,

several score may be disposed. Acid treating liquids are applied to thethread on some of the reels, while alkaline liquids are applied to thethreads on others. Vapors are emitted by such liquids, particularly if,as is desired, such liquids are caused to spread in a-thin layer overthe thread on the reel. It is the practice to heat certain or all of theliquids to temperatures above room temperature, this in order toincrease the speed of reaction induced by such processing liquids. Bothof said factors tend to increase the rate of evaporation and henceincrease the dissemination of vapors.

If no provision were made for ventilating the apparatus, thedissemination of vapors might constitute a serious problem;

Moreover, if the fullest benefits of the continuous processingoperations are to be achieved, it is necessary to maintain as nearlyuniform as possible the processing conditions towhich the thread issubjected on each reel. This requires not only uniformity of the ratesof application of the processing liquids and uniformity of theconcentrations and temperatures of such liquids, but also uniformity ofthe atmospheric conditions surrounding the reels. For example, if thetemthe reels varies, the processing conditions are correspondinglymodified. Such variations in atmospheric conditions can occur as theresult of vagrant air currents.

The condition of the air supplied to the room in which the apparatus isdisposed will obviously have an effect upon processing conditions.Consequently, it is, desirable, if not necessary, that the air suppliedto the room in which the reels are disposed to be subjected to aconditioning operation so that it is in a'predetermined condition asregards temperature and moisture content It is desirable that the air bemaintained at a relatively high temperature and a substantial moisturecontent, since this facilitates the handling of the thread on theapparatus. For the purposes of economy in the air conditioningoperation, it is desirable that such air be recirculated, wherefore itshould be recovered when ithas served its purpose of ventilating themachines.

The present invention satisfies all of these requirements. Among otherthings, it provides an efficient apparatus for removing vapors. Itprovides means for efliciently maintaining predetermined atmosphericconditions in the vicinity of the reels on which processing treatmentsare applied to the thread. It provides for the recovery of the air andrecirculation of such air, thereby rendering it possible to employmachines embodying the present invention in connection with efiicientair conditioning apparatus.

The present invention provides the desired uniformity of atmosphericconditions in the vicinity of the processing reels by providing acontrolled fiow of air over or in the vicinity of-such reels. Accordingto one aspect of the present invention, it provides for a flow of airthrough the bank of reelsin the vicinity of one or more of such reelsperature or the humidity of the air surrounding 55 in each series ofreels on which a thread is treated. According to another aspect of thepresent invention, the air is drawn into the. interior of the machine.This may be accomplished according to the present invention by drawingthe air through the bank of reels into the space between .the banks ofreels.

These aspects of the invention and the advantages flowing therefrom, aswell as other features and advantages of the invention, will be apparentfrom the following description in which are described severalembodiments of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation from line I-I of Figure 2of one form of apparatus for the manufacture of viscose artificial silkthread embodying the invention and operating on the principle of themachine described in Patent 2,225,642. mm 2 is an end elevation of theapparatus ot-Figure 1 from line 2-2 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a sectionalelevation of the apparatus from line 3'3 of Figure 1. Figure 4 is anenlarged detail sectional elevationof a portion of the apparatus ofFigures 1 to 3, inclusive. taken from lines 4-4 of Figures 1 and 5.Figure 5 is a front elevation of the portion of the apparatus shown inFigure 4.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail sectional elevation, correspondinggenerally to that of Figure 4. of another embodiment of the invention,while Figure 7 is a front elevation on the same scale of the portion ofthe apparatus shown in Figure 6. Figure 8 is a sectional elevation ofone bank ofreels on one side ofsuch an apparatus illustrating anothermodification of the invention. Figure 9 is a sectional elevation on thesame scale as Figure 8 of one bank of reels on one side of apparatusshowing still another modification of the present invention.

In the drawings, like reference characters refer to like partsthroughout. 7

In the apparatus of Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, each thread I is producedby extrusion of viscose from a spinneret 2 into a coagulating bath 3contained in a trough 4 which extends longitudinally of the upperportion of the apparatus. Each of said threads I is drawn upward fromthe bath 3 through a guide 5 to a thread-advancing reeldisposed abovethe bath; Said reel, as are all reels on the apparatus, is of cantileverform in that it is supported and driven from one end only. As does .eachof the other reels on the illustrated apparatus, it advances the threadlengthwise thereof .toward its unsupported end in a large number ofclosely spaced, generally helical turns. Each reel i, of which one isprovided for each thread, is disposed so that the point adjacent itssupported end at which the thread starts on the reel is positionedsubstantially above the spinrelation to the supported or receiving endof the succeeding reel, the axes of the reels being horizontal orsubstantially horizontal.

Since the unsupported ends' of all reels on each side of the apparatusare presented toward the operator, advantages in the manipulation of.the

thread on the reels, particularly in the starting of the thread thereon,are provided. Among other things, the stepped arrangement of reels ineach downwardly extending series makes it possible for the thread topass directly from each reel to the succeeding reel substantiallywithout bending, which feature eliminates the necessity of guides forchanging the direction of and thus deleterlously stressing the thread.Furthermore, each of the illustrated machines comprises, two inclinedbanks of reels on the opposite sides of the apparatus. At the upperportion of these banks are disposed the thread-forming means and betweensaid banks is a substantially unobstructed space in the interior of themachine.

In the apparatus shown in Figures l te 5, in-

clusive, no processing liquid is applied to the thread on the reel 8,which is employed to provide a period for coagulation of the thread.Mildly acid liquids are applied to the thread on the succeeding reels 1and 8, one or both of these liquids being heated considerably above roomtemperature to promote the reaction. On reel 9, desulphurizing liquid isapplied to the thread for the purpose of removing sulphur formed duringthe regeneration of the cellulose from the viscose; on reel Ill, washingwater is applied to the thread.

- Bleaching liquid is applied to the thread on reel ll. Washing water isagain applied on reel l2. If desired, an oiling or soaping liquid may beapplied on reel I3. No liquid is applied to the .thread on reel I 4,this reel being employed to store the thread for a suflicient period topermit excess liquid to drip therefrom before the thread H is dried onreel IS. The liquids applied on reels neret 2 from which the thread isextruded and so that the point at its unsupported end from which thethread leaves the reel is disposed beyond the lateral limits of thetrough 4. 1

The thread passes downward from reel 6 to th first reel 1 of adownwardly extending series of reels, nine in the embodimentillustrated, bearing reference numerals I to i5, inclusive. A tubularpassage I1. is provided for each thread at the-edge of trough 4, this inorder to provide a protected passageway for the thread from a pointabove to a point below the trough. The thread passes in sequence to eachof said reels, being stored on each reel in a large number of generallyhelical turns which are advanced toward the unsupport- -ed end of thereel during rotation thereof. A

downwardly extending series of such reels is provided for each thread,each reel in the series being employed to perform a desired step in thesequence of processing operations.

In the apparatus shown in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, each machineproduces a plurality of threads on each side thereof, the coagulatingtrough 4 being common for the threads produced on both sides of theapparatus. In the plurality of downwardly extending series for theplurality of threads produced on each side of the apparatus,corresponding reels are arranged in series extending longitudinally ofthe apparatus, as shown in Figure l. Reels 6 to 15, inclusive, in eachseries on each side of the apparatus are disposed in stepped arrangementwith the discharge end of each preceding-reel in apposite I to 13,inclusive, are preferably heated somewhat above room temperature tohasten their action upon the thread.

On each reel 1 the liquid 'is applied from a tube I9 communicating witha conduit 2|! extending longitudinally of the apparatus and servingvlike reels in adjacent series. Said conduit is connected to a suitablesource of liquid (not shown). A collecting trough 22 is disposed belowa. plurality of reels 1 extending in a longitudinal series to receivethe liquid dripping from said reels. A plurality of such troughs,suitably interconnected,

may extend lengthwise of themachine beneath corresponding reels and theliquid received therein may be recirculated, if desired. The liquidapplied to the thread on each reel 8 is shown as supplied from a conduit23 formed integrally with the collecting trough 22 for the precedingreel, a distributing tube '24 communicating withsaid conduit 23 tosupply each reel 8 in the horizontal series extending longitudinally ofthe machine.

In a similar manner, liquid is applied'to each of the succeeding reelson which the thread is to be treated from a tube 24 communicating with aconduit 23 formed integrally with the collecting trough 22 below thepreceding reel.

Each of the reels on which a processing liquid is applied to the threadis preferably inclined slightly from the horizontal, the unsupported endbeing elevated slightly above the supported end. By such means it ispossible to apply the liquid to one end only of the reel, theinclination of the reel causing the liquid to flow over the entireparatus is internally heated by means of suitable heating fluidcirculated through its drive shaft from supply and drain conduits 28 and21 extending longitudinally of the apparatus and serving all the dryingreels l5 in the same horizontal series. A suitable fitting 28 and tubes29 and 30 are provided to conduct the heating fluid to and remove itfrom the drive shaft for each reel l5. An enclosure 32 surrounds each ofthe drying reels IE to aid in maintaining the desired drying conditionsin the vicinity of the reel. Each of said enclosures has a hinged door33 which, when opened, exposes the front and top of each reel Hi topermit access thereto.

The drive mechanism for the reels in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 5,inclusive, comprises a motor 34 mounted at the end of the apparatuswhich, through a chain contained in housing 35, drives the upper driveshaft 35. The latter extends longitudinally of the apparatus and iscommon to and drives the upper reels 5 on both sides of the apparatus.It passes through gear boxes 31 containing gears and clutch means fordriving said reels from said shaft. Through suitable speed changingmeans 38 and gear reducers 39, motor 34 drives shafts 40 for spin pumps42.

Motor 34 also drives the shafts 44 at one end of the apparatus, in thiscase through gear reducer 43. One of said shafts 44 is provided in orderto drive each of the shafts 45 extending longitudinally of one side ofthe apparatus. An inclined drive shaft 48 drives all of reels 1 to 15,inclusive, of each downwardly extending series of reels, all said driveshafts '48 for the reels on one side of the apparatus being driven fromthe common longitudinally extending shaft 45.

The bobbins 41 of the cap twisters l8 may be rotated and reciprocated byany suitable means such, for example, as that shown, described andclaimed in Bergmann et a1. Patent 2,203,655.

As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the embodiment of the invention illustratedin Figuresl to 5, inclusive, has the space above the coagulating trough4 substantially completely enclosed. The longitudinally extending hood5! is mounted above the coagulating trough 4 and above the reels 5,being supported by the spaced uprights 52 which carry the coagulatingtrough from the lower portion of the frame of the apparatus. As shown inFigure 3, a duct 53 is formed in, said hood.

Uprights 52 support an upper longitudinally extending track 54 on eachside of the apparatus, a corresponding lower track 55 being mounted onthe apron 56 disposed on each side of the apparatus adjacent thecoagulating trough 4. Doors 51, 58 are slidably mounted in overlappingrelation in said upper and lower tracks on each side of the apparatus insuch manner that they can he slid open, as shown in Figure 1, to permitaccess to coagulating trough 4, spinnerets 2, reels 8, and associatedapparatus. In ordinary operation, after the threads I are started fromthe spinnerets to and from the reels 6, the doors-are hausted by duct 8l A negative pressure is maintained in duct 8| by suitable means, notshown, such as an exhaust fan. The vapors of the coagulating bath arethus prevented fromescaping into the room.

In the apparatus of Figures l te 5, inclusive, the space betweenthebanks of heels on opposite sides of the apparatus is substantiallyenclosed and serves as a duct or chamber into which the ,.,,airis.-drawn from reels on the outside of the lfi' apparatus. In theapparatus of these figures, the

top of this space is enclosed by top partition 53 and side partitions64, while the bottom is closed by floor 85. One end of the space betweenthe banks is closed by partition 66 (Figure 3) while the other end isclosed by partition 61 (Figure 2), in which a door 88 is provided topermit access of operators to the interior of the apparatus.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the space between the reels in each bank issubstantially enclosed by the back portions 39 of the collecting troughs22 and by the back portions of the drier enclo- I sures 32. As shown inFigures 4 and 5, each collecting trough 22 is formed with a lowerchannel-like portion H to contain liquid and back portion 88 providedwith openings 13 therein through'which pass the rear hub portions 14 ofthe reels associated with said trough. The reels themselves are carriedby brackets 15 mounted on inclined beams 18 forming parts of the frameof the machine. Each of the troughs 22 is mounted on a longitudinallyextending bracket 11 carried by said inclined beams 16. The spacebetween the back portion 68 of each trough and the correspondinginclined beam 15 it; each end of the trough is closed by a partition Theback portion 89 of the trough 22 for each of the reels 8 to I4,inclusive, extends upward to within a short distance below the bottomportion of the trough above it, thus forming therebetween a slot 13. Theupper edge of the back portion 89 0f the collecting trough 22 for reel 1likewise forms a slot 19 with the downwardly extending side partition 84on each side of the apparatus. Trough-supporting brackets 11 are formedat spaced points with downwardly extending tabs 8| to which the backportions 89 of the collecting troughs 22 are fixed by bolts 82. When anegative pressure is maintained in the space between the banks, as bythe exhaust duct 83 (Figures 1 and 2), air is drawn through the slots 18into said space.

If desired, each of the slots 18 may be provided as shown in Figures 4and 5 with an associated closure plate 84 by means of which the size ofsaid slot can be adjusted. In the embodiment of the invention shown inFigures 1 to 5, inclusive, each of the closure plates 84 is supported atiiitervals by bolts 85 passing through slots 86 in said plate 84 andthreaded into the back portion 89 of the collecting trough 22. Byadjustment of the bolts 85, the sizes of the slots 19 can be varied orentirely closed, if desired.

When the air is exhausted from the interior of the apparatus from oneend thereof, it may be desirable to have the slots 19 progressivelywider at the end of the apparatus remote from the exhaust duct 83 thanat the end near said duct, to cause substantially the same quantity ofair to be drawn into the apparatus along the length of each horizontalseries of reels and thus provide for uniform ventilation lengthwise ofthe machine. As is shown in Figures 1 and 5, the closure plates 84mounted on the hack portion 83 of each trough are mounted at a slightangle so that the size of the slot 18 increases along the length of theapparatus in a direction away from the end thereof at which the exhaustduct 83 is disposed.

It may be desirable, moreover, to have the slots adjacent certain reelsin the series wider than the slots adjacent other reels. Thus it may bedesirable that the slots adjacent the upper reels 1 and 8 be somewhatwider than the slots adjacent other reels in view of the fact that inthe illustrated embodiment of the invention these reels emit most of thevapors. With wider slots adjacent such reels, more air will be drawninto the interior of the machine from these reels. than from the otherreels which do not emit equal quantities of vapors.

Furthermore, it is possible to graduate the slots 18 in size from oneend of each series of reels to the other. In the apparatus illustratedin Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, for instance, it may be desirable to havethe slots narrowest for the lowermost reels, gradually increasing insize for the uppermost reels I. More air may thus be drawn into theinterior of the machine adiacent the reels emitting the most vapors.Since the duct 88 communicates with the interior of the machine adiacentthe lower end of the series, any pressure drop effect between the lowerends of the series and the upper ends may be compensated for in thismanner. In the apparatus shown in Figure 1, the slots 18 increase inwidth as the distance away from the end at which the exhaust duct 83 isdisposed increases, and, moreover, the slots 19 increase in width fromthe lower end of the downwardly extending series of reels to the upperend.

To permit the entrance of air therein, the drier enclosures 32 may beprovided with louvre slots 81 shown in Figure 3, while the rear portionsof said enclosures may communicate with the interior of the apparatusthrough openings 88. In this manner, the maintenance of a negativepressure within the apparatus will cause exterior air to flow 'along thedrying reels and into the interior of the apparatus. It has been foundthat under certain circumstances the drying of the thread is facilitatedby such a countercurrent flow of air.

In the modification of the invention shown in Figures 6 and 7, the slots19 are not present since the back portion 69 of each trough 22 contactsthe bottom of the preceding trough. Instead, the back portion 68 of thetrough 22 associated with reels from which it is desired to withdrawvapors is provided with openings 89. Such openings 88 may communicatewith the interior of the apparatus as in the preceding embodiment of theinvention so that the vapors emanating from such reels can be drawn intothe interior of the apparatus. Such openings may be provided for each ofthe reels in the downwardly extending series or only for certain reels,as desired.

In this embodiment of the invention, closure means 88 are associatedwith each of said openings. By such closure means 80, which are adaptedto be held in any desired position by thumb screws 8|, the size of theopenings 88 can be adjusted or, if desired, closed entirely. It is thuspossible to vary the size of the openings associated with a givenhorizontal series of reels from one end of the machine to the other, asto compensate for the pressure drop lengthwise of the machine if air iswithdrawn from the interior of the machine from one end thereof only.Similarly, the size of the openings can be adjusted, for the reasonsdescribed above, so that they increase in area from one end to the otherof the downwardly extending series of reels. Of course a combination ofthese methods may also be employed.

As is apparent from the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 8,it is not necessary that all of the reels in the series he provided withmeans adjacent such reels for drawing the air through the bank, It ispossible, for example, to draw the air through the bank and into theinterior of the apparatus in the vicinity of only certain reels intheseries, particularly in the vicinity of those on which processingliquids are applied which emit the most vapors. Thus in the arrangementshown in Figure 8,- openings 82 similar to openings 88 shown in Figures6 and '7 are provided in the vicinity of each of the reels I to 8,inclusive.

Moreover, in this embodiment of the invention the door 88 of theenclosure 82 for each drying reel I5 is provided with louvre slots 81.Openings 88 are provided in the rear wall of said enclosure so that airmay be drawn through said enclosureinto the interior of the apparatus.It is to be understood that the remainder of the apparatus, of whichonly a portion is shown in Figure 8, may be similar to that of Figures 1to 5, inclusive, so that air may be drawn into the interior of theapparatus and withdrawn therefrom by suitable means which maintains anegative or sub-atmospheric pressure inside the apparatus.

In the'embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 9, no openings areprovided in the vicinity of any of the reels except the reels 1 at thetop of the bank. In this arrangement, a slot 83 is provided adjacent theuppermost reels 1, the size of which slot may be adjusted by the closureplate 84 held by a plurality of thumb screws 88 spaced therealong. Saidclosure plate 84 may be so adjusted that the width of the slot variesfrom one end of the apparatus to the other. As indicated by the arrows,the current of air caused by the flow of air into said slot 88 when anega- .tive or sub-atmospheric pressure is induced in the space betweenthe reel banks sweeps across the inclined bank and entrains the vaporsrising upwardly from the stepped reels so that such vapors pass into theinterior of the apparatus, from which they may be withdrawn by asuitable means, such as a duct adapted to maintain a negative pressurein the interior of the apparatus. The apparatus is so designed that thein terior thereof is substantially completely enclosed except for saidslot 83, louvre slots 81 in the door of each drier reel enclosure 32 andopenings 88 in the rear of each of said housings.

In all other respects, the apparatus of Figure 9' may be similar to thatof Figures 1 to 5, inclusive. Since the present invention provides forthe flow of air through and/or across a bank of reels,

ing air on both sides of the apparatus, which I also makes foruniformity of processing of the The invention may be applied toapparatus other than that for the manufacture of viscose artificial silkthread or to apparatus of a design different from that illustrated. Theterm vapors in the appended claims is intended to include all gaseoussubstances which it may be desired to remove; similarly, the term threadis intended to include, besides thread per se, all forms of stripmaterial capable of being handled on apparatus embodying the presentinvention.

It is intended that the patent shall cover, by suitable expression inthe appended claims, whatever features of patentable novelty reside inthe invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for the manufacture of thread comprising two spaced banksof thread-advancing thread store devices the operating faces of whichbanks are disposed on opposite sides of the apparatus; means enclosingat least one thread store device in each bank; means substantiallyenclosing the space between said banks, said last-mentioned enclosingmeans communicating with said first-mentioned enclosing means; and meansfor exhausting air from said lastmentioned enclosing means, saidexhausting means creating a constant fiow of air from saidfirst-mentioned enclosing means to said lastmentioned enclosing means.

2. Apparatus for the manufacture of thread comprising two spaced banksof thread-advancing thread store devices the operating faces of whichbanks are disposed on opposite sides of said apparatus; means having anopening therein in the vicinity of one or more of said thread storedevices in each bank substantially enclosing the space between saidbanks; means enclosing at least one thread store device in each bank,said last-mentioned enclosing means communicating with saidfirst-mentioned enclosing means; and means for exhausting the air frommeans in said duct; two spaced banks of threadadvancing thread storedevices associated with said spinning means, the operating faces of saidbanks being disposed on opposite sides of the apparatus; meanssubstantially .enclosing the spacebetween said banks, said enclosingmeans including one or more openings on each side thereof through whichair may be drawn through the associated bank of thread store devicesinto the interior of said enclosing means; and means for exhausting airfrom the interior of said enclosing means.

4. Apparatus for the manufacture of thread comprising means for spinningone or more threads; a housing substantially completely surrounding saidspinning means; a duct associated with said housing, said duct beingdisposed adjacent said spinning means; air inlet means in said duct;means for producing in said duct 9. sub-atmospheric pressure creating aconstant flow of air from said housing into the air inlet means in saidduct; two spaced banks of threadadvancing thread store devicesassociated with said spinning means, the operating faces of said banksbeing'disposed on opposite sides of the apparatus; means substantiallyenclosing the space between said banks, said enclosing means includingone or more openings adjacent one end of each of said banks of threadstore devices through which air may be drawn across a substantialportion of the operating face of each of said banks into the interior ofsaid enclosing means; and means for exhausting air from the interior ofsaid enclosing means.

5. Apparatus for-the manufacture of thread comprising a coagulatingtrough; means in said trough for forming one or more threads; a housingsubstantially completely surrounding said coagulating trough; a ductassociated with said housing, said duct being disposed above saidcoagulating trough; air inlet means in said duct; means for maintaininga sub-atmosphericpressure in said duct creating a constant flow of airfrom said housing into said duct through the air inlet means therein;two spaced banks of threadadvancing thread store devices disposed onoppo- 7 rounding said spinning means; a duct associated with saidhousing, said duct being disposed adjacent said spinning means; airinlet means in said duct; means for producing in said duct 2.subatmospheric pressure creating a constant flow of air from saidhousing into the air inlet means in said duct; two spaced upright banksof threadadvancing thread store devices associated with said spinningmeans the operating faces of which are disposed on opposite sides ofsaid apparatus, each of said banks comprising at least one downwardlyextending series of thread store devices to each of which a thread fromsaid spinning threads; a housing substantially completely surroundingsaid spinning means; a duct associated with said housing, said ductbeing disposed adjacent said spinning means; air inlet means in saidduct; means for producing in said duct a sub-atmospheiric pressurecreating a constant flow of air from said housing into the air inletmeans in said duct; two spaced, laterally extendingupright banks ofthread-advancing thread store devices associated with said spinningmeans, the operating faces of said thread store devices being disposedon opposite sides of said apparatus and each of said banks comprising aplurality of adjacent downwardly extending series of thread storedevices; means including openings in the vicinity of at least some ofsaid thread store devices in each of said banks substantially enclosingthe space between said banks, said openings varying in size laterally ofthe bank from one end thereof to the other; and means for withdrawingair from the interior of said enclosing means from a point at the end ofthe structure defined by said banks at which said openings are smallestcreating a constant flow of air past the thread store devices into theinterior of said enclosing means.

8. Apparatus for the manufacture of thread comprising means for spinningone or more threads or the like; a housing substantially completelysurrounding said spinning means; a duct associated with said housing,said duct being disposed adjacent said spinning means; air inlet meansin said duct; means for producing in said duct a sub-atmosphericpressure creating a constant flow of air from said housing into the airinlet means in said duct; two spaced banks of thread-advancing threadstore devices associated with said spinning means, the operating. facesof said banks being disposed on opposite sides of the apparatus; meanssubstantially enclosing the space between said banks, said enclosingmeans including one or more openings on each side thereof associatedwith each of said banks; and means for efl'ecting a pressuredifierential between the air in said enclosing means and that outsidethe apparatus.

9. Apparatus for the manufacture of thread or the like comprising meansfor spinning one or more threads; a housing substantially completelysurrounding said spinning means; a duct associated with said housing,said duct being disposed adjacent said spinning means; air inlet meansin said duct; means for producing in said duct a sub-atmosphericpressure creating a con stant flow of air from said housing through saidair inlet means into said duct; a bank of threadadvancing thread storedevices associated with said spinning means, all of said thread storedevices being presented to a common operating face; a substantiallyclosed chamber on the side of said bank of thread store devices oppositethe operating face but communicating with the operating face of saidbank by means of openings between said thread store devices; and meansfor removing air from said chamber creating a flow of air through saidopenings in the bank of thread store devices into said chamber.

10. Apparatus for the manufacture of thread comprising means forspinning one or more threads; a housing substantially completely surormore air inlet means therein; means for maintaining a sub-atmosphericpressure in said first duct causing air to be drawn from said housingthrough said inlet means into said duct; 9. bank of thread-advancingthread store devices associated with said spinning means, said threadstore devices being arranged in the form of at least one series ofdevices from one to another of which the thread proceeds in sequence; asecond duct disposed adjacent said bank of thread store devices; anopening in said second duct; and means for maintaining in said secondduct a sub-atmospheric pressure creating across a substantial portion ofsaid bank a constant flow of air into the opening in said duct in adirection opposed to the direction of travel of the thread along saidseries of thread store devices.

11. Apparatus for the manufacture of thread comprising means forspinning one or more threads; a housing substantially completelysurrounding said spinning means; a first duct associated with saidhousing, said duct having one or more air inlet means therein; means formaintaining a sub-atmospheric pressure in said first duct causing air tobe drawn from said housing through said inlet means into said duct; anupwardly extending bank of thread-advancing thread store devicesassociated with said spinning means, said thread store devices beingarranged in the form of at least one series of devices from one toanother of which the thread proceeds in sequence; a second duct disposedadjacent the uppermost thread store devices in said bank; an opening insaid second duct; and means for maintaining in said second duct 8.sub-atmospheric pressure creating across a substantial portion of theupper end of said bank a constant flow of air into the opening in saidduct in a direction opposed to the direction of travel of the threadalong said series of thread store devices.

12. Apparatus for the manufacture of thread comprising means forspinning one or more threads; 8. housing substantially completelysurrounding said spinning means; a first duct associated with saidhousing above said spinning means, said duct having one or more airinlet means therein; means for maintaining a subatmospheric pressure insaid first duct causing air to be drawn from said housing through saidinlet means into said duct; an inclined bank of thread-advancing threadstore devices associated with said spinning means, said thread storedevices being arranged in the form of at least one downwardly extendingseries of. devices from one to another of which the thread proceeds insequence; means for subjecting the thread on each of a plurality of saidthread store devices to a processing operation resulting in the production of vapors; a second duct disposed adjacent the upper end of saidbank of thread store devices; an opening in said second duct; and meansfor maintaining in said second duct a sub-atmospheric pressure creatingacross a substantial portion of the upper end of said bank a constantflow of air which conducts said vapors through said opening into saidduct in a direction opposed to the direction of travel of the threadalong said series of thread store devices.

LAVERN J. JORDAN.

CERTIFICATE OF consscnon, r Patent no. 2,505,696. :December 1 1942.

7 LAVERN J. JORDAN;

It is hereby certifiedthaterror appears-in the printed specification ofthe above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, firstco1mnn, line 14.6, for "Patent 2,205,655" read --Patent 2,203,665"; and.that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction thereinthat the same may confermto the record. of the case in the PatentOffice.

Signed and sealed. this 19th day of January, A. D; 1915.

Henry Van Arsd'aie,, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

